Bad Month for MSRDL Web Site...

Pardon all the web site problems at the MSRDL web site (www.fireline.org/scanlaws). Seems server-wise, we just haven't been having a good time of it.

Last week, our local server suffered from a lightning strike. It was trashed. We had to put up a backup server. We had to basically start from scratch, putting everything back up from backup, getting all the permissions for all the directories set right, etc. Just when we were back up and running...

...Then something happened at the CORPORATE level at Fireline. Suddenly their servers got hit with something...some worms which knocked out a number of their servers and as a result a whole lot of customers suddenly found that their web sites had completely disappeared...including ours.

We're still trying to get everything back up again from backups. Then we have to set all the dir permissions and other stuff.

"Act-Of-God"-wise, this really has been a pain-in-the-ass few weeks. :(

Fear not, though. We can't be made to disappear that easily. We get knocked off the horse, we just get right back up again and continue riding onwards. To quote the famous Commander Peter Quincy Taggert, "NEVER give up! NEVER surrender! Right?

(long pause, while waiting to see just how many people actually GET that) :)

MSRDL Web Site Has Moved

The MSRDL web site has been moved to a new location:

www.fireline.org/scanlaws

We'll be placing a redirect page up at the old location (www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws) soon.

Unfortunately, Alachua FreeNet, our long-time ISP, had a major crash about a year ago and since then things have been kinda unpredictable. They've made a switch to a new server and email operations are again working and web pages are again VIEWABLE but... Unfortunately, FTP has apparently been a bugger for the all-volunteer admin working on AFN. As a result, we haven't been able to get into the MSRDL web site for about a year now, and haven't been able to make corrections and updates in that time.

Yesterday we moved the MSRDL web site over to a new location and we also got to work on some formatting problems which became introduced, we noticed, with MSIE 11. We think we've addressed most of the problems but if anyone notices anything funky anywhere please do let us know and we'll try to get to work on them ASAP.

Meanwhile, we'd like to thank everyone for nearly TWENTY YEARS of service to this country and to the world. And we're of course very proud.

-Todd Sherman, Owner
Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The United States

MSRDL web site temporarily down after server crash...

The Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws web site is temporarily down while technicians work on getting the Alachua FreeNet server back up and operating after a server crash. I'm being told that this might take a couple of days. It's an old system and they eventually plan on moving everything over to a shiny new system but for now things are currently being transferred over to a temporary substitute area while the new server system is being prepared.

The MSRDL site has not gone the way of the wind. It should be back up and operating fairly soon, here.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconveniences.

Todd Sherman, Owner/Webmaster
Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws IN The United States

Additional Windshield Laws Added To Web Site

I've added a few more windshield regulations to the web site. I found a number of new windshield laws which have popped up across the US which would affect the use of radar detectors in those states. So far found, they include California, Minnisota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

These are pretty sneaky laws because while the states may not have laws which specifically regulate the use of radar detectors, the "windshield obstruction laws", as they're called, can "catch" radar detectors in their net - unbeknownst to the unsuspecting driver.

Drivers should watch out for those laws.

If anyone notices any more that I haven't caught, please do let me know so that I can add them as quickly as possible.

For more information, see the MSRDL-US web site.

Considering Lawsuit Against State of Fla Over Radar-detector Use

Considering the possibility of a class action lawsuit against the State of Florida/DMV/FHP for ticketting motorists for the usage of radar detectors in vehicles on Florida roads:

1. where the Florida Senate actually killed a bill by Senator Oelrich in 2007 to ban RDs in Florida, setting a "precedence" that their use is okay and accepted in the State of Florida;
   
2. for setting confusing, not-specific-enough, and contradictory laws (e.g., the "Windshield Obstruction Law"), which contains unfair, inexplicable loopholes for revenue-generating devices, which when combined with the Senate's precedence to allow the use of RDs, places motorists into a no-win, double jeopardy situation of unfair and unconstitutional bias against them if they attempt to fight it.
   
3. using the windshield obstruction law to call RD use on windshield "unsafe";
   while at the same time offering no adequate or reasonable explanation as to how the toll device is somehow "safe";
   
4. charging motorists to USE a toll device that the windshield law would otherwise deem to be be "unsafe" by it's positioning - except by inexplicable "exemption";
   accosting motorists $114 for having an RD mounted on a windshield, but not fining people for the use of the toll device mounted on the windshield - often in the same position;
   

Looking for lawyers to work either pro bono or on a pay-only-if-you-win basis to extract reasonable explanations out of the Florida DMV / Highway Patrol system, and the State of Florida itself, or face a lawsuit.

[ Click here for more information ]

Cellphone "Apps" That Scan ILLEGAL?

Apparently now some states which have already made scanning while mobile illegal are broadening their interpretation of a law specifically intended to regulate devices made long ago to now include cellphone "applications" which can be downloaded and which allow listening to police and fire/rescue broadcasts. This could mean innocent phone app users who have no clue could be arrested simply for having them on their phones...forget whether or not they were even used.

More on that on my web site: Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The United States.

EMWIN Downlink Frequencies Under Attack By Broadband Interests

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR EMWIN USERS:

I know this isn't Scanner Laws-related, but many ham operators use this site and many of THEM use "EMWIN"...

For those SKYWARN spotter and ARES/RACES groups across the US which make use of EMWIN to distribute weather bulletins for free to their spotters, hams, and to their local communities, some kinda scary news...

From the EMWIN-Users listgroup: "Of special interest to EMWIN users and vendors is FCC Public Notice DA-1035 (ET Docket No. 10-123) released on June 4, 2010 calling for public comment on the extent and manner of use of the 1675-1710 MHz frequency band by non-federal users."

The FCC is calling for comments on the feasibility of the idea to take the current frequencies now used for EMWIN downlink and giving them over to other services, which would eliminate EMWIN downlink for many users across the country and other parts of the world...including the downlinks many Emergency Management Agencies now enjoy. We need to write the FCC and harp on our numbers - how many of us are actually using the downlink; and on the SPEED with which EMWIN allows us to receive the bulletins - on par with our NWS counterparts, often on the order of minutes before they actually go out over the NWR or are received using internet-based commercial resources.

Read the entire email here, which also contains a link to the actual FCC Notice.

We've been given less than THREE WEEKS to compose comments and submit them to the FCC. That's kinda ridiculous, but there it is. So let's move on this. Spread the word fast. Compose away people. Join lists such as EMWIN-Users, EMWIN Broadcasters, and WxMesg, too, for more information, and for ideas and suggestions on what to mention in your comments.